KUALA LUMPUR: The Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) disproportionately targets the poor and has failed to address serious crimes, says Ragunath Kesavan, a commissioner from the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).
"It's for crimes and illegal trafficking or illegal gambling or trafficking of persons. So how is it effective if you're only targeting the B40?
"That is why we have asked for the repeal of Sosma. It's not working," he said at the forum titled "IPCC and Police Accountability – The Way Forward" organised by the Malaysian Bar here on Friday (March 21).
He described the law as overly harsh, especially as it denies suspects the right to bail and results in lengthy detention even before a trial begins.
"It takes three years, four years before proceedings even start. So it's really punishment even before a person is found guilty.
"Even if he's acquitted at the first stage, then he goes on to the High Court until the final appeal, which is six years, seven years," he said.
Kesavan reiterated his call for the law to be repealed, saying Sosma doesn't serve any purpose in curbing gangsterism or crime.
"If you want to maintain Sosma in some form, then you should repeal and have bail available, and make sure that there's some special courts, that the hearings are done expeditiously," he added.
The forum also featured Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights chief human rights strategist Firdaus Husni, Suara Rakyat Malaysia legal advisor Farida Mohammad and Human Rights Commission of Malaysia commissioner Ragunath Kesavan.
It was moderated by Leong May Chan, a member of the IPCMC and Police Accountability task force.
Sosma was enacted in 2012 to replace the Internal Security Act 1960, and was designed to provide special measures for handling security offences, aiming to maintain public order and security.
However, its implementation has been contentious, with critics arguing that it infringes on fundamental liberties.
